Ohrid: The Jewel of the Balkans
Not to be dramatic, but we truly believe Ohrid is one of the most beautiful places we’ve been. There’s a variety of wonderful things to do in Ohrid, from paragliding to relaxing on the beaches to eating delicious food! It has an absolutely stunning old town filled with orange-roofed houses overlooking the lake and distant mountains. Ohrid, North Macedonia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (for good reason), and it is known for its historic old town, its Byzantine churches, and its natural beauty. We spent our days here relaxing on the beaches, playing with the many kittens we found, and eating bureks – it was amazing and we could’ve stayed here for weeks!
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The 11 Best Things to Do in Ohrid
1. Visit the Church of Saint John the Theologian
This is one of the most famous spots in Ohrid, and for good reason. This church is absolutely beautiful, made even more so by the backdrop of the lake. The surrounding area is so peaceful; we found ourselves here at least once a day while we were in Ohrid to just sit and take in the view.
2. Wander the Streets of Old Town
The old town of Ohrid is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways from which there are gorgeous views of the lake. There are many churches and monasteries to see, as well as the Ancient Macedonian Theatre of Ohrid (where they still have performances!), which was built around 200 BC. If you’re interested in doing a walking tour (which of course we always recommend, what better way to learn about the city!), check out this one!
3. Tour the Saint Naum Monastery
The most popular boat tour in Ohrid brings you to the centuries-old monastery of Saint Naum. Though this beautiful piece of architecture is reachable by car, we recommend opting for a boat tour and spending some time cruising around the lake. There are tons of companies that do this trip, with most being a day trip where they drop you off for a few hours to explore the monastery and hang out at the nearby beach. This is definitely a must do in Ohrid; you can book a cheap tour here!
4. View Ohrid from Above at Samuel’s Fortress
Samuel’s Fortress is on top of the hill that old town Ohrid sits on, and the views from it are unreal. A panorama of the city displays the juxtaposition of the orange roofs against the green and blue of the surrounding nature. Exploring this fortress is cheap and doesn’t take too long – it’s definitely a must do while in Ohrid!
5. Take a Sunset Boat Cruise
While we were in Ohrid, we did an amazing sunset cruise. For $9 each, we boarded the Boat Armada for a 1.5 hour cruise and a glass of champagne. We got other drinks as well, so it ended up being a bit more expensive, but it was a relaxing experience, and we highly recommend it. Out of all the things to do in Ohrid, make sure you do some sort of boat cruise!
6. Learn about Traditional North Macedonian Food at a Cooking Class
North Macedonia (and the Balkans in general) has some amazing food. After a couple days of trying some traditional dishes, why not learn how to cook some of it so you can make it at home?? At this cooking class, you’ll learn how to make a spinach and cheese komat (also called a burek), moussaka, and a traditional North Macedonian side dish and dessert.
7. Go Paragliding (for Cheap!)
One of our biggest regrets on this trip was not paragliding in Ohrid. We saw signs throughout the city that advertised paragliding for only 69 euros; we thought that was too good to be true (and we were trying to be cheap!) but with Paragliding Ohrid you really can paraglide for that cheap. We’ve never seen paragliding for that cheap, so we highly recommend taking some time to go flying over the beautiful lake.
8. Sunbathe on one of Ohrid’s many Beaches
Ohrid has a number of beach bars within the town where you can buy a chair for the day and order drinks from the bar. However, if you want a quieter and less crowded beach experience, I recommend heading over to one of the beaches just north of the Old City Park (on Google Maps as Градска плажа Мизо). These beaches were super nice – they weren’t very crowded at all and were pebbly rather than rocky. There’s also a nice view of Samuel’s Fortress from here.
9. Walk Down Old Bazaar Street
Old Bazaar Street is a busy pedestrian walkway with a ton of shops and restaurants. If you want to do any shopping while you’re here, this is the place! Also, if you’re looking for smoothies while in Ohrid, definitely check out the Fruit Box on this street!
10. Do Some Country Hopping
If you don’t have enough time to visit the neighboring countries of Albania and Greece during your trip, consider adding in a day tour that will bring you around to visit some unique places near Ohrid. This multi-country tour will first bring you to the stunning city of Korçë, Albania and then to Kastoria, Greece. In Korçë you’ll tour the Old Bazaar and learn about the crazy communist history of Albania, and in Kastoria you’ll have time to explore the beautiful lakeside town and visit the Cave of the Dragon!
11. ATV through Ohrid’s National Park Galačica
If you’re into exploring places by ATV, check out this day trip which brings you through North Macedonia’s beautiful National Park Galačica. On this trip, you’ll get absolutely stunning views of Lake Ohrid as well as Lake Prespa, and you’ll get to enjoy a picnic lunch with mountain views. This is a wonderful way to spend a day in Ohrid and get some great views of the surrounding landscape from above!
Best Time to Visit Ohrid
The best time to visit Ohrid is during the summer months. At this time of year, the weather will be hot and perfect for spending some time on the beautiful lake! Ohrid luckily doesn’t get too touristy (yet!) so this is a great place to come to avoid the typical European summer crowds.
Where to Stay in Ohrid
When booking your Ohrid accommodations, we definitely recommend staying in Old Town. However, if you’re on a tight budget, there are tons of housing options right outside of old town that are cheaper and only a short walk to old town. Overall, Ohrid accommodations are pretty unbelievably cheap. Most hotels and apartments are under $100 and are incredibly nice. Another reason to visit!!
Ohrid Accommodations
How to Get to Ohrid
The best way to get to Ohrid is flying into Tirana, Albania or Skopje, North Macedonia (find your cheap flights here!). From those spots, you can either take a bus, get a private transfer, or rent a car to get to Ohrid.
How to Get to Ohrid from Skopje
From Skopje, it’s super easy to get to Ohrid. You can either rent a car at the airport or head to the main bus station and get on the bus to Ohrid. Buses run pretty much all day so you certainly shouldn’t have a problem catching one! The drive from Skopje to Ohrid takes about 3 hours. Book your tickets in advance here!
How to Get to Ohrid from Albania
The easiest and most flexible way to get to Ohrid from Tirana will be to rent a car. The drive takes just over two hours, but you’ll have to make sure your rental car company is okay with you crossing the border and provides you with the documentation you’ll need.
If you decide not to rent a car, it’s still quite easy to get to Ohrid. In Tirana, you’ll want to head to the International bus station and hop on the bus to Ohrid. Direct buses leave four times a day, and you can reserve your spot in advance here! The drive takes about 2.5 hours and is beautiful!
If you’re coming from elsewhere in Albania, you’ll want to first get a bus to Tirana and then get to the international station to catch the bus to Ohrid. If you come into the North/South bus station, you can hop on the city bus across the street from the station entrance and take that bus a few stops to the International Station.
Tip: If you’re trying to get to a different part of Albania from Tirana by bus, it’s important to note that Tirana has four bus stations: the Airport Shuttle Station, the East Station, the North/South Station, and the International Station.
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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FAQs
Is Ohrid worth visiting?
YES. This place is stunning and is not overly touristy, and it truly is one of the most beautiful places we’ve been to. We will 100% be back for a longer stay to do the other things we didn’t get a chance to do and just hang out by the lake.
How to spend a day in Ohrid?
If you only have a day in Ohrid, we recommend grabbing a burek and visiting Samuel’s Fortress, the Church of Saint John the Theologian, strolling through old town, and taking a sunset boat cruise. If you have time and are into adventure sports, go paragliding over Lake Ohrid!
Is Ohrid or Skopje better?
Ohrid is one of the most beautiful places we’ve been and with the lake access it can’t be beat in the summer. Skopje is unique and has great history and architecture, but we would without a doubt choose Ohrid over Skopje.
How long should I spend in Ohrid?
Most people need at least 3-4 days to fully explore Ohrid, but it’s an easy place to stay longer!
What is the currency in North Macedonia?
The Denar is the official currency of North Macedonia, although Euros are widely accepted. A lot of places here accept credit card as well. Ohrid (and all of North Macedonia) is also way cheaper than western Europe, making it a great destination for those on a budget.
